The Omission of the Added Element (Genitive) in Al-Kashshaf: Surah Al-Kahf as a Model

The Arabic language features various types of omission, one of which is the omission of the genitive or added element (adhf al-muaf). This linguistic phenomenon serves rhetorical purposes extensively examined by linguists and exegetes. Among the prominent figures who discussed this is Imam Al-Zamakhshari, a distinguished scholar in language, rhetoric, and Quranic exegesis. This study investigates the phenomenon of genitive omission, its linguistic forms, and its rhetorical purposes in Al-Zamakhsharis exegesis of Surah Al-Kahf in Al-Kashshaf. It identifies instances of genitive omission in the surah as interpreted by Al-Zamakhshari and addresses the main question: What rhetorical benefits arise from the omission of the added element (genitive) in Surah Al-Kahf, as discussed in Al-Kashshaf?Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study exclusively examines Surah Al-Kahf within the context of Al-Kashshaf. Key findings reveal that Al-Zamakhshari identified eleven instances of genitive omission in his commentary on Surah Al-Kahf. However, thirty-one other instances of omission in the surah are not addressed in Al-Kashshaf. Furthermore, Al-Zamakhsharis method of identifying omissions varies: in some cases, he explicitly notes the omission, while in others, the omission is implied and requires the readers discernment.